Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe today (29) asked why the Rajapaksa government that could not develop the country, despite having a two-thirds majority in parliament, is seeking power again.
He emphasized that although it is a minority government, the present government played a major role in the development of the country during the last four years.
Mr. Wickremesinghe pointed out that at a time when the present government has done such a massive service for the people of the country without having a majority, the government can accelerate the development of the country if the people gives a majority to a United National Front government in the future.
Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe made this observation at a ceremony held at the Embilipitiya Public Grounds to present the land deeds in Ratnapura District.
Addressing the gathering, the Premier said the current government moved forward facing many challenges. "We faced many challenges, such as drought, floods, local government elections and the Easter Sunday attacks. Although many thought our government would be destabilized, we moved forward facing all these challenges successfully."
"We took steps to increase the funds for education. Started the 'nearest school the best school' program. Started providing trained teachers for schools. Started the program to provide tablets to students. We have taken measures to reduce the health service charges and provide relief to the people. Our government was able to provide stents free of charge. Rajapaksa government provided only a limited number of houses to the people. However, today our government provides houses for the people through four ministries. We take the country forward implementing development activities through all ministries."
The Minister of Lands and Parliamentary Reforms and the Chief Government Whip Gayantha Karunathilaka said that once again the government has been able to issue deeds to over 2500 people in the Ratnapura District.
He said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was the most recent political leader who understood the value of owning a land.
"That is why he made the 2015 election promise. He entrusted me with the responsibility of giving one million land deeds all over the country. We also take steps to give free land ownership to the people."
"The Prime Minister's intention is to give land rights that were limited to the affluent, to the ordinary people of the country. We are carrying out this task rapidly and successfully throughout the country. "
The Minister said Minister Thalatha Athukorala and other political representatives of the area have contributed immensely for granting of land deeds in Ratnapura.
Minister of Justice and Prison Reforms Thalatha Athukorala addressing the gathering said the UNP has a great history and pride in giving land to the people.
Since the time of D.S. Senanayake, it was the UNP that founded farming colonies and made country self-sufficient in agriculture, the Minister noted.
"We know how distraught you have been without your own land. You did not have the ability to enroll your child in school, get a loan, or give a dowry. Minister Gayantha Karunathilaka has been able to issue these land deeds on a directive by the Prime Minister to address these issues. Today you get the real ownership of your land. The Prime Minister's guidance was a great boost in this regard."
The Chief Sangha Nayaka of the South Ven. Omalpe Sobitha Thera and the Ratnapura District Parliamentarians AA Wijetunge, Hesha Withanage, UNP Embilipitiya Organizer P Abeynayake, Land Ministry Secretary WH. Karunaratne and other prominent politicians, government officials and land owners were also present.
Meanwhile, the opening of the National Workers Union office of the Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority, Walawa Zone was held at Embilipitiya today (29) under the patronage of the Prime Minister.
(colombopage.com)